Len Righi, 63, Former Morning Call Entertainment Editor

Leonard L. Righi, 63, of Bethlehem, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown. 

Born in Bethlehem he was the son of the late Egildo and Olga (Dalmas) Righi. He graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School in 1968 where he was Class Valedictorian and student council president, and then from Moravian College in 1972 with a degree in Journalism.

He was an accomplished trumpet player, and music was one of his life’s passions.

After graduating from Moravian College, Len began a 38-year career with The Morning Call as a police reporter in the paper’s former Bethlehem office. After advancing to entertainment editor for the Features department, he began to attain national recognition for his interviews with famous artists in the fields of music and entertainment, including Sting and Mick Jagger.

Leonard was known as a wonderful editor, described as scrupulous about accuracy and surgical when something ran too long. He was also lauded for having an “encyclopedic” knowledge of pop music and its history, and a near photographic memory.

Leonard recently was semi-retired as a web writer and producer for WFMZ TV in Allentown. Len loved old movies and the Phillies and the Eagles. He was of the Catholic faith. He will be missed for his wit, sense of humor, love of animals, especially his dogs, and willingness to go the extra mile for friends and co-workers.

Survivors: fiancée Diana Morse; sisters Dolores Oldt and Roseann Repasch; brother in law Bernard Repasch and nephews Bernard and Jonathan Repasch; niece Tina Oldt and nephew Justin Oldt, Uncle Marino and Aunt Tina Righi and cousins Robert, Daniel and Paul. Also, cousins Lawrence Righi, Mary Purdy and Rita Hock; former wife Nancy Vargo.

Services: 4 p.m. Sunday in the Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden St., Bethlehem, where friends may call from 2 p.m. until the time of service. A memory tribute may be placed at www.longfuneralhome.com.

Contributions: in lieu of flowers, to Bethlehem Special Olympics, PO Box 536, Bethlehem PA 18016; or to Animals in Distress, PO Box 609 Coopersburg, PA 18036.